Britain's most successful Paralympian, Dame Sarah Storey, has backed the use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions [TUEs] for medical reasons and insists the rules are strict.
TUE records of athletes have recently been revealed in leaks of hacked data obtained from a World Anti-Doping Agency database by a Russian hacking organisation calling itself the Fancy Bears.
Following the controversy over Sir Bradley Wiggins' use of a powerful anti-inflammatory drug to treat breathing issues before the 2012 Tour de France, Dame Sarah said on Sportswomen that the TUE system is designed to give unwell athletes the opportunity to compete.
"I'm not worried about how they [TUEs] are being used, Therapeutic Use Exemptions are required," Storey said.
"Asthma medication, some of it used to be required as therapeutic use and that's when I've had TUEs.
"They are used to allow you to have the right dose of medication to cure an illness, over and above that is an abuse. They are not a license to use a medication unlicensed in an abusive way.
"You are given a very strict dosage within that TUE provision and that's how they are used in sport so they can put people who aren't very well back in the position to be able to compete and to be able to get through it without being seriously ill afterwards.
"It is quite a rigorous process and it's not something that's easy to get through a panel without good cause."
Dame Sarah claimed her 14th Paralympic gold to become Britain's most decorated Paralympian in Rio as her haul of three golds from the Games saw her overtake wheelchair racer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's total of 11, and the cyclist is still trying to come to terms with her new title.
"I'm trying to get these to sink in before I try and contemplate that new title as it were," Storey added. "To come back with what was realistically the best target I could ever have had to defend three out of the four from London. I'm just so chuffed.
"We are just starting to look at those videos, watch the performances with a critical eye as well, but obviously enjoying the celebrations and I haven't caught up with my family and friends yet, so [there are] plenty more bottles of champagne to open."
After the successes in Rio that saw Great Britain finish second in the medal table behind China with 64 gold medals and 147 in all over 11 days of competition, the 38-year-old is already considering future plans for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Between now and Christmas it's all about enjoying what is now and the work that has gone into it, and then you start to think about the future," Storey said.
"The closer you get to Father Christmas the closer you get to having to think about having to get back onto the bike or not.
"I shall have my final decision very soon and then that plan will get put together as to how that will happen."
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